Page 94 of Seduce & Destroy

“I don’t want it. I’ll prove it.”

“I’ll tell him that.”

“I’m not a threat,” she said, defiant.

He stood again and as he walked off said. “We’ll be the judge of that.”

A pregnant pause elapsed. I wasn’t sure what to say. All I knew was that she couldn’t stay. I still failed and Laney was still a Ravencroft. Both indelible truths. Daddy wasn’t going to forgive this so easily.

As if sensing my thoughts, she scooted closer to me, our hips touching. “You know, we can make this work right?”

I released the deep breath I was holding. “The trouble isn’t over. Sorren will be waiting around every corner you walk around when he discovers you’re back. Not to mention my father–”

“I don’t care anymore. I’m going against everything adverse to my nature. Kenn–Uh Kilina, I forgive you. I’ve lost my entire family but I’m here. For you. Is love not enough? Does love have to have pain for you to want it, to allow yourself to feel it?”

“Love hasn’t got anything to do with it. It’s not you, it’s m—”

“Shut the fuck up, right now.”

“Princess.” I sighed.

“No!” She yelled. “No, you don’t get to do this. I sacrificed everything for you, my home, my stability, my health. All the while, you were winning. You won, Kilina, huh? Isn’t that good enough? Can’t I be your victory prize?”

“You don’t know me, Laney. You think you do, but I’m not Kenna. I am not looking for a reward. I was only the first thing that came along. There will be others.” My blood ran cold at my own words. Others? You think I’d let them get close. But I had to say it, because she had to hear it. “Don’t be with me just because you don’t know anything else. I deserve to be chosen.”

“I chose you in the hallways of St. James's, don’t delude yourself into thinking you forced me. I chose this too. I am not my father.” She choked. “I came back to my former home that was besieged by my worst enemy. Don’t talk to me about choice. The weak revenge. The strong forgive. That’s what Einstein said. You’ve had your revenge, very clearly, but don’t you also want to be strong?”

“What kind of literary bullshit is that Laney please. I can’t stand—”

She put her foot down. “I forgive you. Every bit of it.”

“You don’t truly believe that. You’re just latching on to me. My family is waiting for me. I’ve got to report back on this.” I went toward the door, and she slammed it shut before I could leave it.

“I love you.” She laid the words out, stripped bare. I didn’t doubt they were honest, but I wasn’t sure I could accept it. Laney was touch starved to the point where any touch was conceived as a loving one. It wasn’t the reality of life though. Her insecurity around her inexperience was something she can’t fix with me here. I was too familiar.

I gave her a weak smile. “Your mother would be proud of you.”

“She would. I opened the box. She told me to choose love, Kilina. In that box was a letter. It was from her before she passed.” She had more hope in her eyes than I had in my entire life, if only I could let her in.

“Yeah? Well, we found footage of your father starting the fire, burning my grandparents and uncle to death. We aren’t cut from the same cloth. It’ll never happen.” I sighed. “You’re a Ravencroft, Laney. I’m a Karstein. Your father destroyed this. Destroyed us before we were even born.”

“I’m not my father!” She yelled. “Can’t we get rid of some of this animosity?”

“No.”

“So, I was right?”

“No one’s wrong.”

“We are incompatible.”

She dropped her shoulders, defeated, I thought at first, but then she pushed them back in a show of confidence. “I don’t think so. This is my home. I’m staying.”

I punched a fist into the wall beside her head. “Can’t you see, Laney? I’m using you. I needed you to ring a confession from your father. I needed you to get close so that I could stay in this house. It wasn’t real. You’re a strategy.”

It didn’t hurt her like I thought it would.

It emboldened her.